大般涅槃經義記 1.74

1.74

From here below, the third [part] is that the Tathāgata does not accept. Saying "knowing the time" is the reason for not accepting. He knew that now was not the time to accept offerings, and therefore it is called "knowing the time". What is the time of acceptance? The times of acceptance are two: 1. the time of assenting to accept, in the "Chapter on Cunda"; 2. the time of directly accepting, in the "Chapter on the Inquiries of the Great Assembly". The former time of assenting to accept reveals that the Buddha is eternal; the latter time of directly accepting reveals that nirvāṇa is eternal. Now was not those times, which is why he did not accept. Saying "remained silent" clarifies the manner of not accepting. Why was silence necessary? The Tathāgata is a great man who embodies the Way and has few desires; whether accepting or not accepting, he is mostly silent. How could they distinguish it? He manifested signs to make them know. Saying "did not accept" directly clarifies the non-acceptance. There are four explanations of the intent: 1. desiring to let all assemblies equally make presentations, he therefore did not accept this. If he accepted this offering, the remaining assemblies would abandon their intentions; how would they dare present again? 2. in order to have Cunda present offerings to manifest the Dharma, he therefore did not accept this. If he accepted this offering, how would Cunda dare generate the intent to present again? 3. desiring to make the various assemblies have profound minds toward giving, he therefore did not accept this, and only later in the "Chapter on the Inquiries of the Great Assembly" did he accept them; 4. because at this juncture he had not yet revealed to Cunda the meaning of the Buddha's permanence, fearing that the various assemblies' giving would have nothing to orient toward, he therefore did not accept this. Below, once he has finished revealing permanence to Cunda, in the "Chapter on the Inquiries of the Assembly" he accepts them all equally. Now, since his non-acceptance of this offering was like this, the non-acceptance among the rest of the assemblies below follows the same precedent.